Champagne is generally associated with feelings of euphoric excess and the special occasions that prompt them -- New Year's Eve celebrations, weddings, birthdays, promotions. Even if you're in the mood to splurge, a large crowd or a tight budget can prompt the pursuit of cheap Champagne. From France to Spain, Italy, and California, there's enough excellent bubbly to go around for $10 or less. The challenge lies in knowing what you're buying. We considered online reviews and ratings from a variety of sources and consulted a wine expert to come up with our top picks.

If you think cheap white wine is only for grandma's spritzer, think again. There's a white wine -- costing no more than $10 to satisfy almost anyone's palate. Inexpensive white wines can complement a range of foods, brighten up a lazy summer afternoon, and make an excellent substitute for pre-dinner cocktails. White wines typically present fruity and/or floral flavors and aromas, sometimes offer a bit of spice and earthiness, and range in sugar content from bone dry to dessert-level sweet. We've made top picks based on tastings, ratings, reviews, and awards, on top of expert advice, and suspect wine drinkers will find at least one selection to suit both their sipping preferences and their budget.

Who needs a premium red wine when a thoroughly respectable bottle costs $10 or less? Frugal quaffers who know even a little bit about wine and aren't afraid to go with what they like will find many such bottles. There are hundreds of cheap red wines out there -- some barely worth the few dollars you'd pay but many worth drinking. With so many styles, grape varieties, producers, and labels to choose among, shopping can be a challenge. To guide wine drinkers through the thicket, we've made top picks based on tastings, ratings, reviews, awards, and expert advice. We've also selected a wide array of other inexpensive red wines fit to serve with a meal, bring to a party, or sip over the course of a quiet evening.

With just about two weeks left till Christmas, many shoppers are scrambling to find just the right gift for everyone on their holiday lists. If you're among them, don't sweat it. Our latest buying guides are full of ideas, from cheap and easy items from the dollar store to gifts every foodie will love to useful stocking stuffers to gifts for pets, there's something for everyone. Still unsure? Our guide to stores with the most and least generous return policies can make purchasing any gift less stressful. And if all the running around this holiday season has you wondering just how many miles you're racking up, check out our guide to the best, cheap fitness trackers, which can also help focus your fitness goals in the new year. Also new on the blog this week: smart tax moves to make before year-end, how to put your family on a budget, incredible gingerbread house displays across the continent, and more. Updated Buying Guides: Best Cheap Champagne. A buying guide to cheap champagne -- more properly known as sparkling wine -- that can do a celebration proud for less than $10 a bottle. New and Updated Blog Posts: 19 Cheap Holiday Gifts for Pets. Here are 19 holiday gift ideas that furry friends are sure to appreciate. Pet owners will take delight in them, as well. 11 Hangover 'Cures' Debunked. All those alleged hangover cures are little more than myths. There's only one cheap and simple cure that works. Top Fitness Trackers Under $50 to Get You Moving. Get fitter faster with top-rated fitness trackers under $50. Measure calories and get motivated to be more active throughout the day with instant feedback. 25 Delectable Gifts Under $25 for Foodies. From onion goggles to truffle oil, these cheap and practical gifts will keep the gourmet sated and happily cooking all year long. 12 Stocking Stuffers They'll Actually Use. Don't waste money by waiting until the last minute to buy stocking stuffers. These great, practical ideas start as low as $2. 10 Smart Tax Moves to Make Before the End of the Year. Taking steps such as making charitable donations, contributing to a 401(k), and making an extra mortgage payment before the end of the year can help lower 2015 taxes. 10 Toast-Worthy Sparkling Wines for $10 or Less. Any of these 10 budget-priced and flavorful sparkling wines will add festive good cheer to holiday celebrations -- and also deserve a place at the table year-round. 11 Ways to Put Your Family on a Budget for the New Year. Start the new year right with these 11 budgeting tips to get your financial house in order and help your family get on the right path. 12 Holiday Gifts You Can Get at the Dollar Store. Whether you're shopping for family, friends, or co-workers, dollar stores are a convenient source for inexpensive holiday gifts. 16 Incredible Gingerbread House Displays That Are Worth a Trip. Elaborate and mostly edible, these 16 gingerbread houses are anything but tame. Plan a trip, check out the displays, and maybe even take a piece home. 25 Places to Go for Spectacular New Year's Eve Fireworks. Catch the New Year's Eve fireworks displays in these 25 places, many of which also host free and family-friendly activities to usher in 2017. Love Chocolate? 10 Places You Have to Try the Hot Cocoa. Whether you're in New York, Chicago, or Austin, gourmet hot cocoa is a great way to warm up -- here are some of the best cups of liquid heaven across the country. Best 'Main Street' Shopping Districts in All 50 States. Here are 50 great places to shop while enjoying small town scenery, setting, people, and pace, all far, far away from crowded, chaotic megamalls. 10 Stores With Strict Return Policies. Some retailers are more forgiving about returns during the holiday season, but these 10 stores have strict return policies every shopper should know. 13 Stores With Amazing Return Policies. Holiday shopping is stressful enough without having to worry about returning an item. These 13 stores offer generous return policies -- and peace of mind. 11 Inexpensive Winter Cruises to Sunny Destinations. Winter can be exactly the right season to land a huge bargain on a getaway cruise to someplace warm and sunny like the Bahamas or Puerto Vallarta. 8 Ways to Give to Charity and Get a Tax Break for 2016. Tax-deductible donations to charity pay off personally and financially. Here are eight tips for claiming tax savings in 2016. 15 Inexpensive Ways to Make Overnight Holiday Guests Feel at Home. A few minor touches such as slippers and extra towels can make a huge difference in the comfort level of overnight holiday guests -- and their hosts.

50 Ways to Spend Less When Eating Out

Whether it's trying the new restaurant in town, enjoying drinks with friends, or sampling new kinds of food, dining out brings many pleasures. The final bill can add up, though, especially once gratuity and taxes are factored in. Here are 50 tips that can help save money when eating out.

Dinner out is often more expensive than lunch, and many restaurants offer lunch specials to entice new customers and turn tables over quickly. Opt for a cheaper lunch date instead of dining during prime time in the evening.

Restaurants frequently switch up happy hour specials. For example, 1849 Bar in New York City offers $7 pitchers on Wednesdays and half-price drinks for ladies on Thursdays, in addition to daily happy hour offerings.

Restaurants of all sizes increasingly are accepting orders online, allowing diners to order exactly what they want and to take advantage of online discounts available only through the eatery's website.

To get a sense of how much the total bill may be before going out, check prices on MenuPages or search for restaurants in the "$ (inexpensive)" or "$$ (moderate)" price groups on Yelp. Zomato goes a step further, providing the average cost of a meal for two people.

Happy hour isn't only for drinks. Many bars and restaurant feature cheap eats to go along with discounted cocktails, wine, and beer. Search "happy hour" on Yelp to find nearby deals and look for ads on storefronts or in local publications.

Some restaurants and bars offer special deals on the Yelp and Foursquare/Swarm mobile apps. For example, Ugly Kitchen, a New York City eatery, has offered free orders of wings to patrons who check in on Yelp.

MealPal subscribers can place orders with select restaurants the night before, skip the line, and pick up lunch for monthly flat rates that amount to $5.19 to $6.39 per meal. The service (formerly known as MealPass) is available Chicago, Miami, Boston, Washington, New York, and San Francisco, cities where buying lunch can easily cost more like $10. Consumers must supply an email and may have to wait for an invitation before joining.

Save a percentage off the retail value of certificates for select restaurants (e.g., a $25 certificate for $10). Note the fine print, as some places require a minimum purchase and include a default tip.

When dining with a group, charge the entire bill to your credit card and earn rewards. Friends can give you cash or, with a few taps on a smartphone, easily send payment for their portion through a service such as Venmo, PayPal, or Chase Quick Pay.

Restaurants including California Pizza Kitchen and TGI Friday's offer loyalty programs for frequent diners. Points and complimentary items such as dessert can be earned by using the restaurant's rewards card.

Pass on drinks if you're on a budget. Specialty cocktails can cost more than $10 in major cities, and even cheaper drinks add up, especially if everyone opts in for a second or third round. Focus on food instead.

Some restaurants charge a flat fee for opening a bottle of wine that diners bring in, known as a corkage fee. It can be cheaper than ordering individual drinks, but be sure to inquire before dining, as corkage fees can be quite steep at some eateries.

Although they might seem inexpensive compared with the entrees, an appetizer or two can quickly pad a restaurant bill. Ask the server how many guests each dish serves before ordering, or consider skipping appetizers altogether.

Order one fewer main course than the number of people and share all the dishes. Everyone gets a taste without paying for an entire item. Sharing can also help with portion control, by removing the pressure to finish an entire entree yourself. Look out for restaurants that tack on a surcharge for splitting dishes, though.

Many American restaurants serve portions that are much larger than the recommended serving size. Consider the practice of mindful eating: Focus on the texture and flavor of each bite, while filtering out external distractions. Those who eat mindfully report feeling fuller faster and more satisfied, which can help curb the desire to order more and leave enough food left over to take home for another meal.

Unless the meal is family style, ask for separate checks when ordering to prevent confusion and awkwardness later. Splitting the bill evenly can cost you when others order more expensive dishes or drinks.

It's easy to quickly hand the check back with a credit card enclosed. However, some restaurants automatically add 15 to 20 percent gratuity to the bill, especially for large parties, and also leave the tip field blank. Check the bill first to avoid double-tipping.

When dining with a picky toddler, skip the restaurant kids' menu and instead pack food that kids will eat. Parents can save money and the headache of choosing from a limited menu for a child's small appetite.

Instead of ordering dessert at a restaurant, where it could easily cost $6 to $10 before tip and tax, go for a stroll and get it elsewhere. A scoop of ice cream or slice of cake costs a few dollars at a bakery.